HomeMy WebLinkAboutIsland Loop BridgeBoard Work Session
Island Loop Bridge – Status Discussion
August 26, 2009
Background:
Road District #1replaced the structural bridge to Island Loop in Deschutes River
Recreational Homesites with fill across the channel, a culvert through it, and a
road surface on top of it. This work required a Wetlands fill & removal permit, but
one was not obtained. In response to a complaint, a code enforcement case was
initiated. The District was cooperative in addressing the violation and agreed to
file the land use application to legitimize the bridge. There was no indication from
the district that the bridge might be controversial. On June 17, 2009, the Board
agreed to waive fees associated with the application, to be paid back through
plowing of county maintained roads in the district next winter.
After notice was mailed of the pending land use application, a number of letters
and e-mails have been received by both staff and the Board expressing
opposition to the bridge as constructed. Items of concern include blocking of
canoe/kayak access to the channel, stagnant water, mosquitoes, weeds and
potential flooding. Based on these communications, standard practice is to send
the matter to a hearing and have a Hearings Officer render the decision. This will
add considerably to the cost of the application. This information has been
communicated back to the district.
As yet, no additional request has been received from the district requesting that
the additional cost of the hearing and hearings officer also be waived.
A representative of the district will be invited to the work session.
Requested Action:
For discussion. Board Options:
1) Direct staff to suggest to the district that the application be suspended and
that the district first work with concerned neighbors on the bridge design to
identify and address concerns. This could be as a condition of
consideration of additional fee waiver requests.